Dr. Giselle Elgarresta Rios

Giselle Elgarresta Rios is Associate Professor of Music at Barry University, in Miami Shores, Florida since 1996. Dr. Rios is presently the Coordinator of the Music Program at Barry University. She earned her academic degrees from the University of Miami with a Master's in Vocal Performance with highest honors and Doctorate in Choral Conducting as Graduate Assistant for Dr. Joe-Michael Scheibe. At Barry University she sits on many active committees in the Fine Arts Department,Chairs the Communication and Technology Committee, and is an elected member of Faculty Senate.

As conductor, Dr. Rios has had various international conducting engagements. She was Visiting Guest Conductor for the 2012 Curso Internacional for the Pontificie Universidad Catolica in Santiago, Chile, and has been invited to return in January, 2013. For over a decade, Dr. Rios has worked as Guest Conductor in the Abruzzo region of Italy . Most recently, in 2010 she was Guest Conductor in Pescara, Italy. Dr. Rios has also presented in Paris, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Since 2011, Dr. Rios has served as a Consultant/Adjudicator for Festival Disney programs in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Rios has been Artistic Director of a range of events from University programs, festivals to community events. Throughout the years, Dr. Rios has collaborated with several and conducted the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami, Greater Miami Youth Symphony, and Miami Pops Symphony and Chorus for the Concert Association of Florida in the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Dr. Rios made her debut as the first Cuban-American woman to direct in Carnegie Hall in New York in 2006. In 2008 she returned to Carnegie Hall to conduct an all Hispanic program including choruses from Spanish and Cuban Zarzuelas and Latin American repertoire including Villa-Lobos’ Choros.

Dr. Giselle Elgarresta Rios is studying voice and vocal pedagogy with distinguished vocal professor, Manny Perez. In 2011-2012, Dr Rios performed as soprano soloist at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Aventura Arts Cultural Center, Temple Israel of Greater Miami, and Barry University She sang as Soprano soloist for Opera Atelier programs throughout South Florida as Nedda from I Pagliacci, Norina from Don Pasquale, and Musetta from La Boheme. She is presently Soprano Soloist for Temple Israel of Greater Miami and for St. Augustine Catholic Church. Other operatic roles include: Fanny from La Cambiale di Matrimonio, Micaela from Carmen, Mimi from La Boheme and many roles from Operas by 20th Century American composers including Masha in The Music Shop.

In addition, Dr. Rios is a vocal and choral consultant in schools throughout South Florida. Dr. Giselle Elgarresta Rios graduated Phi Kappa Phi on President's Honor Roll and a member of Iron Arrow. Memberships include College Music Society, National Association of Teacher's of Singing and American Choral Director's Association.